Tank indicator



Jan. 21';- 1930. G. J. 'DUNBAUGH, JR

TANK INDICATOR Filed oct. 10, 1923 xzgf 2 Sheets-Sheet that as TilltlilApplication filed hotel or 10,

invention rel tes to indicators for de- .ning the level of gasoline orother liquid in tanks, and has among its objects the pro duction of adevice of the kind described, which is simple, convenient, compact,durable, reliable, oitlicient and satisfactory for use wherever foundapplicable.

ltlany other objects and advantages oi the construction herein shown anddescribed will e obvious to those skilled in the art from disclosuresherein given.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangementand combination ct parts herein shown and described,

J and more particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like orcorresponding parts,

Fig. 1 shows my device as applied to a motor vehicle;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the gasoline tank with my device appliedthereto;

3 is a section taken substantially on line d-3 of Fig. 2;

l3 is a plan view of the indicator portion cl? my device, taken from thefront thereof;

Fig. 5 is a section taken substantially on line h-5 ott l; and

6 is a section taken substantially on line 6-ti of 5.

ln t drawings, wherein I have illustrated the pr red embodiment oi? myinvention, there is shown a motor vehicle ot any desired struction ortype and having the usual hit or receptacle l for holding a supply ofgasoline. The tank has a filling inlet 2 and is provided with an outletopening; 8. A. flanged fitting l is positioned about the opening 3 oithe tank, the outer end of said fitting;- being preferably threaded.

bracket is adapted to be inserted through the fitting and to extendwithin the tank in order to carry a iloat mechanism tor actuating anindicator located at a remote point. This bracket is formed of anydesired material, aluminum being found especially desirable and suitablefor the purpose, the same comprising an arm 5, at the ends of which arearranged arms 6 and 7, respectively, these arms at w "TUE TU Gl-IILTPIQNMANU- srlliOl'fd Gi l ILLINOIEE being termed integrally with and lateralto the arm 5. Aligned apertures are provided through the portions 6 and7 and into these apertures are i serted bushing or bearings 8 and 9,respectively, of bakelite, or any other suitable material.

Integral with the bracket and arranged transversely thereto at the outerend is a closure disk 10, adapted to seat on the fitting; t so as toprevent the passage of liquid there through. ll. collar 11 is arrangedto be sc ewed onto the ill 4E- ove -ie closure disk so as to clamp the cin place against movement.

A bored sleeve portion 12 extends from the closure disk 10, in line withthe bored portion '4", but on the opposite side of said disk, the outerend of sair. board portion 12 being threaded so as to receive a clampingnut 13, as will be hereinafter described.

ll. float mechanism comprising a float l l arranged at one end of a bentrod having legs 15 and 16 is adapted to be arranged within tank andcarried by the bracket, the float inn; or falling with changes in thelevel o gasoline. ln 2 the float is shown at its lowest position, or, inother words, the t The leg 16 ot the float no liquid, the free end ofthe pin 1'? projecting radially collar 8 secured to the inst thebushing; 8 and preis 1 l movement oi the float mechanism inwardly beyondthe bracket.

'rible shat't 18 has one end connected ,nsion 19 rotatably arrangedwithin the closure disk 10, the free end non having socket to receive ndof rod portion 16 and having 0 inwardly of the outer end of the slidablyrece re the pin 17. Any 1 ional movement oi v the rod 16 will betirnismitted to the flexible shaft through the picslot connection.

1 conduit or sheath 21, having an enlarged portion is arranged about theflexible shaft 18 and is retained against longitudinal movement byhaving its enlarged portion 22 clamped between the sleeve 12 and the nut13. In order to transmit the rotational movement of the flexible shaftto a suitable indicating means, so that the amount of gasoline in thetank may be ascertained, I have arranged an indicator at the instrumentboard of the ve hicle with a flexible shaft and fasing run to theii'istrument board as shown in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 5, a cup-shaped member 26, having a flange 27 is insertedthrough an opening in the instrument board 25 and a dial portion 28 isarranged across the interior of the cup. A bezel 29 is inserted into thecup to bear against the dial and hold it in place, there being spacerrings 31 and 32 to further assist in this purpose. A glass ortransparency 30 is held in place in the bezel and thro In which the dialmay be view ,d. A. hearing part 3-1 is arranged within the cup 26 and isprovided with a threaded extension to project beyond the cup, thisextension adapted to cooperate with the nut 13 for securing the end ofthe conduit 21. in place thercat.

The part 34 is provided with a pair of par allcl laterally spaced boresand 36 there through. the former intended for receiving the flexibleshaft 18 and the latter to form a bearing for a spindle shaft 37 uponwhich a needle or pointer 38 is mounted so as to move across the face ofthe dial 28. A plate 33 is arranged across the cup intermediate thespacer rings 31 and 32 to form a second bearing for the spindle 37. Theouter portion. of the bore 36 is enlarged so as to frictionally receivea plug 39 extending through the cup and by means of which the spindlemay be adjusted from the exterior of the cup.

A shaft extension part 23 is attached at one end by suitable means tothe end of the flexible shaft 18 arranged within the bearing 35, saidextension having a pair of axially spaced rounded enlargements 24thereon to bear against the wall of the bearing aperture 35 and providean annular chamber therebetween. Lock nuts 34 may be arranged on thepart 34 to clamp it in place within the cup, and a bracket part 42 maybe arranged to be secured to the cup by bolts 43, the ends of saidbracket bearing against the inside wall of the instrument board 25.

It will be noted that there are no gears at the tank portion of thedevice and it therefore becomes necessary to provide gears or othermotion reducing means at the indicator portion so that the needle willnot be re volved through more than a single revolution. This reductionof angular movement of the needle is done by arranging intermeshinggears or pinions 40, 41 on the shafts 37 and 23. Obviously, any movementof the float will be transmitted directly to the flexible shaft throughthe pin and slot connection, and, in turn, transmitted to the needlethrough the meshing gears.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that variousin'nnaterial modifications may be made in the same without dcpartingfrom the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood aslimiting nryself to the exact form, construction, arrangei'nent andcombination of parts herein shown and described, or uses mentioned.

hat I cl im as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a device of the kind described an d in combination, a tank having anopenin therein, a fitting arranged at the opening, a onepicce bracket insortable into the opening from the exterior thereof and having alignedbearings, means for securing the bracket to the iittin floatmeansarranged in the tank, a bent one-pic e rod hav' 5 one end secured to theheat means and having its other end jourd in the boarin a iiejzibleshaft projec into the brac t, 2: member secured to the flexible shaft and having a slotted socket adapted to receive one end of the bent rod,and a pin projecting from the rod and engaging the slot.

In te, imony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

GEORGE J. DUNBAUGH, Jr.

